Icarly

Everyone knows who Hannah Montana is. But perhaps only kids know she's been unseated as TV's reigning tween queen by one Carly Shay. When no one was looking, Carly, the plucky 15-year-old star of the Nickelodeon comedy "iCarly," overtook Disney Channel's "Hannah Montana" -- and this year, "American Idol" -- in the ratings race for young audiences. Miranda Cosgrove, who plays Carly, is still a name that draws quizzical looks while Miley Cyrus sells out Cineplexes and concert stadiums.

"Sam & Cat," which premieres Saturday on Nickelodeon, takes the sidekicks from two other Nickelodeon shows - Jennette McCurdy's Sam Puckett, from "iCarly," and Ariana Grande's Cat Valentine, from "Victorious" - and bunks them in together as costarring leads. All these series were created by Dan Schneider, who also created "Zoey 101" and "Drake & Josh" and co-created "What I Like About You," which makes him, like, the Neil Simon of teen sitcoms. For a particular audience, this will be epic - as if, for a different particular audience, Bill Cosby's Alexander Scott and David McCallum's Illya Kuryakin were to ditch Kelly Robinson and Napoleon Solo and team up, or Ed Norton and Ethel Mertz were to run off together into their own show.

When Michelle Obama hugs you, it's OK to hug back. The cast and crew of Nickelodeon's hugely popular sitcom "iCarly" found this out when the first lady filmed a guest appearance for an episode that airs Monday night. She greeted people on the Hollywood set as if they were old friends, series' creator Dan Schneider said, in spite of the buttoned-down Secret Service bubble around her. "I'd planned to keep a respectful distance so no security people would wrestle me to the ground or Tase me," said Schneider, also "iCarly's" executive producer.

"iCarly" star Miranda Cosgrove joined the ranks of teenage home buyers this fall with the purchase of a house in Hollywood Hills for $2.65 million. The 1952 traditional-style home has nearly 3,000 square feet of living space and sits on more than a quarter of an acre. Designed by Arthur W. Hawes, the house features a media room with a wet bar, formal living and dining rooms, three en suite bedrooms and a powder room. There is a swimming pool and a covered pavilion with a flat-screen TV. Cosgrove, 19, did commercial work before appearing in the film "The School of Rock" (2003)

Has there ever been a better moment for tween girls? "Hannah Montana" and "Wizards of Waverly Place" reign on the Disney Channel. Tween idol Taylor Swift rules the radio. There are even tween girls in the White House. Since mega-successes like "High School Musical," Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers showed execs the way, pop culture has been flooded with tween girl entertainment. And yet another promising series about a cool teen girl, "Victorious," debuts on Nickelodeon on Saturday. But what about the boys?

A roundup of entertainment headlines for Wednesday: Meredith Vieira signed off from "Today" for the final time. ( Today ) After three seasons, Laurence Fishburne has had enough "CSI. " ( Los Angeles Times ) Is Jennifer Love Hewitt really the worst actress of all time? The critics on Rotten Tomatoes seem to think so. ( Los Angeles Times ) Eminem has decided to take on Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber in his new single. Why not throw Jennifer Love Hewitt in there too?

"iCarly" fans, dab those tears. A week after the hit Nickelodeon show wrapped its run, the network has announced the series pickup of "iCarly"/"Victorious" offshoot "Sam & Cat. " The spinoff comedy, which was given a 20-episode order, features Jennette McCurdy ("iCarly's" Sam Puckett) and Ariana Grande ("Victorious'" Cat Valentine). The two will reprise their roles from their respective shows -- only in this universe, they'll pair up as roommates and start their own babysitting business.

Computer maker Apple Inc. and German automaker Volkswagen are discussing the possibility of building an "iCar" that would feature products by the producer of the ubiquitous iPod personal music player. Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs and Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn met several days ago in California and plan to meet for further discussions, said Hans-Gerd Bode, a spokesman for VW. There are "scores of ideas" but few concrete plans at this point, Bode said.

Nickelodeon unveiled a new slate of projects on Friday, including a spinoff of its hit series "iCarly. " The pilot "Gibby," created by"iCarly's" Dan Schneider, follows Gibby, Carly's odd friend, as he takes a job at a rec center for kids of all ages. Noah Munck will reprise his role as Gibby, who will become mentor to four quirky middle-schoolers. Another show from Schneider combines characters from "iCarly" and his "Victorious" series. The pilot, "Sam & Cat," teams Carly's best friend, Sam Puckett (Jennette McCurdy)

By now, "iCarly" fans are aware of the looming reality: The Nickelodeon teen sitcom will be wrapping its run after five seasons. The series, from Dan Schneider ("Drake & Josh," "Victorious"), broke new ground with the way it entwined the Internet and technology into its story about three friends who start up a Web show, speaking to a generation glued to their cellphones and laptops. It was a scheme that would prove beneficial. Early in its run, "iCarly" would outpace fictional teen queen "Hannah Montana" in the race for young viewers.

"iCarly" fans, dab those tears. A week after the hit Nickelodeon show wrapped its run, the network has announced the series pickup of "iCarly"/"Victorious" offshoot "Sam & Cat. " The spinoff comedy, which was given a 20-episode order, features Jennette McCurdy ("iCarly's" Sam Puckett) and Ariana Grande ("Victorious'" Cat Valentine). The two will reprise their roles from their respective shows -- only in this universe, they'll pair up as roommates and start their own babysitting business.

Jennette McCurdy, a star of "iCarly," ditched Black Friday shopping anarchy to take part in a video chat with Show Tracker to reflect on the Nickelodeon show as it wraps its run after five seasons. The show's one-hour series finale airs Friday night - McCurdy was amid coordinating plans to view it (yes, she'll be watching with bestie Miranda Cosgrove). "It's become very real because kids keep coming up to me and teenagers and college students who have watched it since they started high school and they almost start crying and they say 'a part of my childhood is gone'," McCurdy said of the show's end. " ... it makes me sad. " Check out the video to see what the young actress had to say about what viewers can expect from the final episode, what's to come from her spinoff "Sam & Cat" and, maybe, just maybe, you'll catch her doing a random dance.

By now, "iCarly" fans are aware of the looming reality: The Nickelodeon teen sitcom will be wrapping its run after five seasons. The series, from Dan Schneider ("Drake & Josh," "Victorious"), broke new ground with the way it entwined the Internet and technology into its story about three friends who start up a Web show, speaking to a generation glued to their cellphones and laptops. It was a scheme that would prove beneficial. Early in its run, "iCarly" would outpace fictional teen queen "Hannah Montana" in the race for young viewers.

Miranda Cosgrove, the sprightly star of Nickelodeon's "iCarly," is sitting on the floor of the show's fictional Ridgeway school set during a lull in production - practicing lines and adjusting the collar on her bright blue jacket. Try as she might, though, she can't ignore the inevitable. Looking up at her character's locker that towers above her - a veritable landmark among the tween-set - the brunet wunderkind summons a cornball glance at costar Jennette McCurdy sitting beside her. "Think of me fondlyyyy/ when we say goodbyeeee," the twosome mirthfully croon to each other, calling up a ballad from "The Phantom of the Opera.

Nickelodeon unveiled a new slate of projects on Friday, including a spinoff of its hit series "iCarly. " The pilot "Gibby," created by"iCarly's" Dan Schneider, follows Gibby, Carly's odd friend, as he takes a job at a rec center for kids of all ages. Noah Munck will reprise his role as Gibby, who will become mentor to four quirky middle-schoolers. Another show from Schneider combines characters from "iCarly" and his "Victorious" series. The pilot, "Sam & Cat," teams Carly's best friend, Sam Puckett (Jennette McCurdy)

When Michelle Obama hugs you, it's OK to hug back. The cast and crew of Nickelodeon's hugely popular sitcom "iCarly" found this out when the first lady filmed a guest appearance for an episode that airs Monday night. She greeted people on the Hollywood set as if they were old friends, series' creator Dan Schneider said, in spite of the buttoned-down Secret Service bubble around her. "I'd planned to keep a respectful distance so no security people would wrestle me to the ground or Tase me," said Schneider, also "iCarly's" executive producer.

Jennette McCurdy, a star of "iCarly," ditched Black Friday shopping anarchy to take part in a video chat with Show Tracker to reflect on the Nickelodeon show as it wraps its run after five seasons. The show's one-hour series finale airs Friday night - McCurdy was amid coordinating plans to view it (yes, she'll be watching with bestie Miranda Cosgrove). "It's become very real because kids keep coming up to me and teenagers and college students who have watched it since they started high school and they almost start crying and they say 'a part of my childhood is gone'," McCurdy said of the show's end. " ... it makes me sad. " Check out the video to see what the young actress had to say about what viewers can expect from the final episode, what's to come from her spinoff "Sam & Cat" and, maybe, just maybe, you'll catch her doing a random dance.

"iCarly" star Miranda Cosgrove joined the ranks of teenage home buyers this fall with the purchase of a house in Hollywood Hills for $2.65 million. The 1952 traditional-style home has nearly 3,000 square feet of living space and sits on more than a quarter of an acre. Designed by Arthur W. Hawes, the house features a media room with a wet bar, formal living and dining rooms, three en suite bedrooms and a powder room. There is a swimming pool and a covered pavilion with a flat-screen TV. Cosgrove, 19, did commercial work before appearing in the film "The School of Rock" (2003)

A roundup of entertainment headlines for Wednesday: Meredith Vieira signed off from "Today" for the final time. ( Today ) After three seasons, Laurence Fishburne has had enough "CSI. " ( Los Angeles Times ) Is Jennifer Love Hewitt really the worst actress of all time? The critics on Rotten Tomatoes seem to think so. ( Los Angeles Times ) Eminem has decided to take on Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber in his new single. Why not throw Jennifer Love Hewitt in there too?

Without making any too great claims on its behalf, I would like to direct your attention, in a good way, to the Nickelodeon TV movie "Best Player," featuring two stars of "iCarly" who aren't Miranda Cosgrove. You won't mistake this for "The Lady Eve" or "The More the Merrier" in either invention or wit, but it has been made (by director Damon Santostefano, working from a script by Richard Amberg) with a light, sure hand. And although the film, which premieres Saturday, runs toward the obvious and the preposterous ?